Tag Archives: Festival

Festival Theatre sketching with the Edinburgh International Festival

EIF2016_MC1422_1

Super excited to be back sketching in the theatre and watching Scottish Ballet perform MC14/22 (Ceci est mon corps) at the Festival Theatre.

MC14/22 is an emotional piece, sometimes violent, tender, confusing but ulitmately unforgettable. Using 12 male dancers it’s energetic and intense choreography is inspired by St Mark’s version of The Last Supper in the Bible: ‘Take, eat: this is my body’.

Here are some of my sketches as I tried to capture the movement and emotion on stage.

EIF2016_MC1422_6

EIF2016_MC1422_5

Not an easy task when drawing in almost complete darkness, I scribbled away in my sketch pad and added colour once the theatre lights were turned back up.

Unfortunately I couldn’t stay for the second set ‘Emergence’ but you can see both together at the Festival Theatre until August 20th.

 

Edinburgh International Festival website

Scottish Ballet website

EIF2016_MC1422_3 

The Dazzle Ship in Leith, Edinburgh

DazzleShip

Stunning reflections of the mesmerising Dazzle Ship by Ciara Phillips, in Leith as part of Edinburgh Art Festival 2016.

The contemporary coloured Dazzle Ship docked in Leith (near Ocean Terminal) was designed by the Turner Prize-nominated artist Ciara Phillips and will be available to see until August 28th.

Ciara Phillips’ Every Woman was co-commissioned by Edinburgh Art Festival and 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Art Commissions and is actually the fourth Dazzle Shipto be commissioned after similar works in London and Liverpool which collectively commemorate the period from 2014 to 2018.

It wasn’t until I got up close to the shear size of the bold strokes of colour that I fell in love with the piece.

These unmissable floating artworks provide a visual connection to the hundreds of Dazzle Ships that crossed the seas during the First World War.

I had passed the ship by car and seen it from a distance but it wasn’t until I got up close to the shear size of the bold strokes of colour that I fell in love with the piece. Go and see it on the Prince of Wales Dock where there is also information panels telling the story of this artwork and more about the history of Dazzle Ships.

You can also get involved by creating your own ‘dazzle’ design on the Dazzle It App, follow the 14-18 Now link below to find out more.

Ciara Phillips

Edinburgh Art Festival website

14-18-Now website

dazzleshipphoto1

 

 

Enjoying the Magic Festival with the Sketcher Twins.

MAgicFestivalAt the weekend the Sketcher Twins and I soaked up some Summerhall magic.

The Edinburgh creative hub for the arts is home to studio and workshop spaces, and is situated close to the east end of the Meadows park in Edinburgh’s south side. It’s a favourite place for me, drop in for a coffee or bite to eat and there is always some interesting a new artwork or creativity to see.

From the 1st to the 8th of July the venue, and others around the city has been taken over by the Edinburgh International Magic Festival. I took the twins there on Sunday for the ‘Magic Fair Family Morning’ which ran on Saturday and Sunday.

The twins loved it … as did I

The entrance fee of £12 (under 7’s were free, children over 7 £7), got you 4 hours of access to various magic shows, magic related craft and even a mini magic school.

The twins loved it (as did I – the magicians were very funny) and combining the shows with the arts and crafts was a good way of breaking up the day and avoiding too much queuing or waiting around.

Although that particular session was only on for the weekend there are plenty of other shows to see before the finale on the 8th July. Click through the links below to find out more, and remember to book the Magic Fair Family Morning next year!

The sketch above was drawn from photos taken on the day, in black ink and watercolour. 

The Edinburgh International Magic Festival website

Summerhall website

A day at the Edinburgh International Science Festival

ScienceFestival_2016jpgI spent the day at the City Art Centre, home to the Edinburgh International Science Festival until April 10th.

With an aim to ‘inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to discover the world around them’ the two-week festival gives audiences amazing experiences through a diverse programme of innovative events. Although the festival is spread out around the capital, the City Art Centre remains the flagship family venue and boasts six floors of fun experiments and workshops to keep the whole family entertained.

I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to return next week with the Sketcher Twins. Highlights include creating slime to be splatted against a huge target, and the Photolab where youngsters can create their own image on photographic paper in a darkroom.

Each floor is cleverly split into workshops appealing to different ages, so there is something for all the family on each level. Take a packed lunch, there is a room on the top floor for you to eat it and remember to check the website below where you can book some of the workshops before you arrive.

My sketch today was drawn as I walked around the event in black ink pen and watercolour. Below are a few close ups of my drawing. If you would like your event sketched get in touch at contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com

The Edinburgh International Science Festival website.

 

ScienceFestival_2016a ScienceFestival_2016b ScienceFestival_2016c

 

A beautiful day in Edinburgh to bring the 2015 Edinburgh Festivals to a close

StAndrewSquare_2015I hope you are enjoying the sunshine in Scotland’s capital this afternoon and soaking up the atmosphere as Edinburgh’s many festivals build to a finale of tonight’s fireworks.

 

Here is a sunny sketch from inside St Andrew Square Gardens, as I was sitting eating my lunch on Friday.

 

I’m sure the busy thoroughfare looks similar today as visitors and residents alike soak up the atmosphere as Edinburgh’s many festivals enjoy their final day before tonight’s Virgin Money Fireworks Concert.

 

Unfortunately I can’t make it on to Princes Street Gardens to hear the Scottish Chamber Orchestra play beneath the amazing display but there is still time to get your ticket, via the link below. I will be watching from the outskirts, and perhaps listening in to the SCO via Forth One Radio.

 

EIF Virgin Money Fireworks Concert website

 

Forth One website 

Sketching a dragon, at the Royal Lyceum Theatre

EIF2015_Dragon_1Dragon, the wonderful and moving story of a boy meeting a dragon, told without words and with amazing puppetry and stage magic that will leave you believing the unbelievable.

 

Created by Vox Motus, the National Theatre of Scotland and Tianjin Children’s Art Theatre, Dragon tells the story of Tommy whose life, since the death of his mother, has gone from bad to worse. One restless night Tommy goes to the window and throws back the curtain to find himself face to face with a dragon.

 

Here  have captured a couple of scenes from the play which runs today and tomorrow only at the Royal Lyceum Theatre as part of this year’s Edinburgh International Festival. Above shows he Dragon first appearing to tommy as he sits beneath a swing, and below the dragon appears to become a motorbike as it and Tommy play together.

 

See it if you can, it is a wonderful spectacle.

 

EIF2015_Dragon_2

 

Dragon on the EIF website

 

The WhereArtI Quiz, 27th July – win tickets to Foodies Festival

ES_WAI270715
Morning Edinburgh, can you tell me where I am for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Foodies Festival 2015…

 

This week as well as the usual points on offer I will be selecting a random correct answer on Wednesday morning to receive 2 tickets to this years Foodies Festival. The UK’s largest celebration of food & drink returns home to Edinburgh’s Inverleith Park on 7th, 8th & 9th August, celebrating its 10th Birthday.

 

Foodies Festival website

Edinburgh International Festival 2015 launch

EIF2015_launchDirector Fergus Linehan presented his first Edinburgh International Festival launch at the Usher Hall last night

I was there sketching and captured the doodles to the left.

 

The line up looks as exciting and diverse as ever and kicking the festival off on the 7th of August will be a free outdoors event I am very much looking forward to. Using the stunning architecture of the Usher Hall as a canvas The Harmony Project will combine John Adams’s choral work Harmonium with a series of spectacular animations, projected on to the exterior of the famous building.

 

With dance, orchestra, theatre and opera the EIF programme for 2015 is packed full of delights, too many to list here. Head along to their website below to flick through the full list of amazing talent that is about to descend on the capital once again. I can’t wait for the summer!

 

Edinburgh International Festival website

 

BBC at the Edinburgh Festivals

BBCsign_TwinsUntil this Sunday 24th August you can visit the BBC@Potterrow for family fun, live shows and festival highlights.

Check the link below to see what is on offer each day but within the ‘festival garden’ (next to Bristo Square) there’s bags of free stuff to experience. The Sketcher twins had a great time producing musical notes with fruit and vegetables, completing a huge jigsaw and even just sitting in a huge pink tent.

 

The biggest excitement and probable memory of the afternoon though was this huge sequined BBC sign which shimmered and shone across the garden, and provided a great backdrop for many a parent taking pictures of their kids 🙂

 

See what’s on below or just head along and chance your luck like we did, great for families it is free and interactive.

 

BBC – Edinburgh Festival website

 

BBCsign_Twins2